Captain Merrick flipped the iron key between his fingers as he held his hand over the frothing wake of the ship. It was the key to his cabintheir cabinwhere he and Charlisse had spent many blissful hours together. Somehow he could not force himself to enter that cabin again, so he had instructed Sloane to remove his clothes and weapons, fasten a heavy latch to the door, and bolt it shut. Now Charlisse's things would be locked up foreveralong with his heart. He wished he could do the same with the torturous memories invading his mind.
The sun hung halfway in its descent, sending shimmers over the turquoise sea. It had been a beautiful day, but for Merrick, it might as well have been dark and gloomy. Feeling his eyes moisten, he swung his arm back, flung the key high into the air, and watched it disappear into the white foam seething off the stern. He closed his eyes and tried to pray, but all he envisioned was an angry God with arms crossed and face turned away.